Asiri: Coalition Protects Yemen’s Legitimate Government

London – Arab Coalition and Saudi Defense Ministry Spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri said on Thursday that the coalition continues to support a political solution to the crisis in Yemen.

During a news conference held at the Saudi Embassy in London, Asiri said that the Arab Coalition was currently working to achieve two main goals, represented by reaching a political solution to the ongoing crisis in Yemen, through the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2216 and protecting the country’s population, legitimate government and army.

He added that the Arab Coalition forces were assisting the Yemeni army by providing necessary support and training.

Asked by Asharq al-Awsat newspaper about the recruitment of children and women, the Arab Coalition spokesperson said that the Yemeni legitimate government has informed international organizations about the recruitment of children and women by Houthi rebels, adding that the United Nations has condemned such acts, describing them as violations to the International Law.

Asiri said that around three months ago, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stopped children fighters along the Saudi-Yemeni borders, and with the help of the Red Cross, 52 of them were returned to their families in Yemen, after providing them with necessary psychological and physical treatment to prevent their return to the fighting arena.

He added that several reports issued by the U.N. and UNICEF said that Houthi militias were also recruiting girls to join the war.

For his part, Maher HADRAOUI, Executive Director of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRELIEF), said that Houthi militias were hampering the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged population.

He added that KSRELIEF was facing two main obstacles in Yemen, represented by constraints imposed by Houthi rebels on the delivery of relief assistance, and the hard geographic conditions in the country.